FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP QATAR 2022 - NEWS BLOG - UPDATE 6

 Japan shocks the world again: Defeats two World Cup champions and passes the top spot in Group E, which is full of difficult opponents

The Japan National Soccer Team defeated Spain in their final match of Group E of the World Cup Qatar Round 1 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on 1 June (2 Japan hours), finishing in first place in the group with 6 points (2 wins and 1 loss) and qualifying for the final tournament for the fourth time in two consecutive tournaments.

Japan shocked the world again. Following their first match against Germany, they defeated the World Cup champions in their third match and finished in first place in Group E of the first round. In his seventh World Cup, he showed solid signs of growth and pried open a heavy door.

Japan made their World Cup debut in France in 1998. The slogan of the first round, which was tied with Argentina and other champions, was "one win, one draw, one loss". However, they lost all three matches. From there, the challenge to catch up with the world began.

24 years have passed since then. Germany and Spain, Costa Rica, the top eight teams in Brazil 2014, and the top 16 teams so far have played together in the first round of this tournament for Japan. From the point of view of the Japan, it was a "group of death" with a lot of difficult enemies, but the surrounding view was an easy-to-understand composition of "2 strong 2 weak".

However, the players all said they were looking forward to it. At the World Cup in France, all the Japan national teams were from the J.League, but now they play in Europe, where they are playing as a matter of course. Some players, such as TOMIYASU Takehiro (Arsenal), have been active at the world's biggest clubs. Gone are the days when individual players improved their strength and assumed defeat against strong opponents.

In their first match against Germany, they endured tenacious defence despite being dominated by a four-time champion. In the second half, the speedy and technical players who were introduced up front stirred up the German defence and scored two goals in the final eight minutes to win the match.

They lost to Costa Rica in the second leg and needed a win against Spain to advance through the first round on their own. Coach MORIYASU Hajime told the players who were forced into a difficult situation. "We can't change the past, but we can change the future."

Switching from the shock of the defeat, the players held discussions with the coaching staff and analysis staff on and off the pitch to share an image of Spain's preparation and do everything they could to give it their all. Many players did not flinch against strong opponents and said, "We just need to beat Spain." Resilience in the face of adversity underpins the growth of Japan football. That was the force that helped them defeat Spain.

Qatar is the site of the "Doha tragedy" where Japan narrowly missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for the first time 29 years ago. Captain YOSHIDA Maya (Schalke), who leads the team in a dynamic place, said:

"I think Japan have been thinking about how to get to the World Cup and how to win the World Cup, and there is no doubt that they are evolving and growing in that context.

Next up is the first round of the playoffs, which has been bounced off three times in the past. Beyond that, the "new scenery" that we have been aiming for awaits.

JAPAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM IN WORLD CUP QATAR 2022

The furious press that led to the defeat of Spain

Shortly after the start of the second half of the 0-1 win against Spain. Following the ball lowered by the Spanish player to the goalkeeper, Daizen Maeda on the front line rushed furiously. That was the signal to fight back.

Spain had 79% possession of the ball in the first half, compared to 14% for Japan. Japan kept being pressed most of the time. The strong players, who have absolute confidence in their ability to keep, tried to connect by passing left and right even if they were able to enter deep into their own half in the Japan. That's where we pressed.

Maeda's movements were linked to midfield by Daichi Kamata, Kaoru Mitoma and Junya Ito, attacking the opposing goalkeepers and defenders one after another. Then, as if succumbing to the pressure of the Japan, the ball spilled over to the right flank. Ritsu Doan, who picked it up quickly, brought it to the front of the goal and swung his left foot. "That's my course, I took the plunge." Doan, who scored the equaliser in the first match against Germany in the first round, deflected off the goalkeeper's hand and pierced the goal.

The momentum does not stop. 6 minutes into the second half. Mitoma chased the ball that almost broke the goal line, threw his body out and turned it over, and Aoi Tanaka pushed it into the goal. At one point, it was judged that the line had been broken, but it was overturned by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), who assisted the referee's decision with video, and the goal was conceded. It was a comeback that lasted only three minutes.

They beat Germany in their first match, but lost to Costa Rica in their second match, and they had to beat Spain to advance through the first round on their own. But even in adversity, Japan's qualities were evident throughout.

Defensive efforts to stretch their bodies in front of the goal and to press systematically on the ball. The attack, which approached the goal without any effort after taking the shot, was also applauded by the fans. "It's important for us to play with patience, and it's the same with hard work, and fighting as a team is more intense than in any other country," Tanaka said. Playing at the Khalifa International Stadium, where they defeated Germany in their first match, they once again surprised the world.

They were placed Japan in the same group as Germany and Spain, who had won the championship, but at the end of the day, they beat those two teams and finished in first place. They will also gain momentum heading into the first round of the playoffs, which have been bounced back three times so far. "The fact that we were able to beat a country in the top group of the world's best gives us a lot of confidence," said coach MORIYASU Hajime. After overcoming a major obstacle, they earned the right to challenge for the first time in the top eight, which is their goal.